Gillingham 0 Cheltenham Town 0

Match 30/12/983 - Tuesday, 6 November 2012 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Cheltenham Town (0) 0
Att. 6,096

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 45/2,015

Match Report

If there were any among the 6,000-plus crowd at Priestfield Stadium, or the wider world, that were naïve enough to think that game in, game out Gillingham would spend the rest of the season turning over their visitors four goals at a time, then last night was a wake-up call. Cheltenham Town arrived in Kent in third place, in a good run of form and, most especially in the first 45 minutes, lived up to their credentials as promotion contenders.

Although only 109 supporters followed their favourites from Gloucestershire, their invective against their former manager, Martin Allen, was clearly audible. A pre-match blog from a Cheltenham journalist made it apparent that there was going to be no love lost from the away terrace and with their singing of “Martin Allen, you ruined our club” they made their point heard.

Allen’s team selection saw Andy Frampton return at left back in direct opposition with the tricky Jermaine McGlashan. Frampton, even in his dreams, was never going to win a foot race against the speedy McGlashan and with the full back Sido Jombati getting forward to double the trouble, Gillingham were facing a severe threat down the Cheltenham right hand side.

Stuart Nelson needed to be at his best with saves from Russ Penn and Kaid Mohamed, while Callum Davies and Adam Barrett were called upon to make chance saving tackles and blocks. The home side made the odd foray on the opposition goal but in general it was Cheltenham that were calling the shots. On 35 minutes, Mohamed was stopped in his tracks by a sliding tackle from Davies that, if there was one, would earn tackle of season with immediate effect. Had he not made the tackle, the on-form striker would have been through on goal with options.

Five minutes before the break chances were spurned at both ends of the pitch. Firstly, Penn headed wastefully over the bar before at the other end Town keeper, Scott Brown could only parry a fierce shot from Jack Payne into the path of Danny Kedwell, who somehow managed to crash a shot against the bar from very close range.

The Cheltenham fans might not value Allen as a manager, but his team talk may well have had a bearing on the second half transformation. Those visiting fans spent the entire half peering into the distance as the second half was played out in front of the Rainham End. But they will also be appreciative of the fact that whilst in the opening period their side showed good quality on the front foot, the second was one of great resilience at the back with the giant central defenders, Darren Carter and Steve Elliott standing firm.

The referee became a frustrating official as McGlashan got a ticking off for a poor challenge on Davies and Carter trod a very fine line following a caution. Perhaps recognising the official’s inconsistency, Allen decided to replace Payne, who was on a booking, with striker Deon Burton.

Despite their dominance, real chances were at a premium. Barrett forced Brown into a save and a series of free kicks on the edge of the box failed to beat the wall. Perhaps, it was a lack of concentration after a long period of inactivity but when Nelson spilled a McGlashan cross at his right hand post there was a timely reminder of the threat the visitors held.

Gillingham’s second chance of note came on 75 minutes when Deon Burton steered a diving header wide of the post and from that point the visitors restricted their hosts to half chances falling to Barrett and Kedwell.

As it turned out, with none of the chasing pack able to capitalise, each one drawing their fixture, the point can be considered a good one and if it did nothing else it served as a gentle reminder that Gillingham are not the only decent side in the division.

The classic programme covers that are being replicated for this centenary season today came from the 1999-2000 season.